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February 17, 2025
The Family Promise Five is a weekly newsletter whose purpose is to update, inform, and advocate for families who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness.
The mission of Family Promise of Waukesha County is to help low-income families and families experiencing homelessness achieve sustainable independence through a community-based response.
In this edition, you will find these stories:
Please note the background for this poll: In 2024 Family Promise of Waukesha County received $51,804 or approximately 5% of our budget from grants that originated with the federal government. These grants helped support case management, underwrite expenses for the Apartment Shelter Program and provide rent assistance. In 2025, grants originating from the Federal Government are projected to be 10% of our budget.
A few weeks ago the OMB issued an order freezing federal funds which would affect efforts to prevent homelessness and shelter those experiencing homelessness. What is your assessment of how organizations should proceed moving forward?
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Most people never really sat down and got to know a homeless person but every homeless person is just a real person that was created by God . . . they just have a different story.” – Ron Hall
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
Family Promise of Waukesha County had a table at St. Anthony on the Lake and then at the City of Waukesha Chamber of Commerce non-profit showcase. It was great meeting so many wonderful people who are interested in sharing their gifts with families experiencing homelessness.
Going clock wise: 1.] Veronica Dworak of Alpha Xi Delta donated a gift from Kendra Scott to be shared with a mom in our program. 2.]Ed Butte, John and Kathy Gibbs from St.Anthony on the Lake provided the meal for the Emergency Overflow Shelter. 3.]The Golf Outing Live Auction winners of Improv Night MCeed by Doug Jarecki and hosted by Joe and Maribeth Nettesheim got to play Professor Know It All among other fun games and 4.] learn about our agency;
VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Joe Nettesheim was invited to speak at the Masses at St. Anthony on the Lake, Pewaukee. We are grateful to have an opportunity to share an overview of the impact of Family Promise of Waukesha County. If you would like Joe to speak to your congregation, civic group, business, bookclub please email him.
1. OVERFLOW SHELTER UPDATE
Another water main break forces winthe EOS ter shelter plans to change
Volunteer Opportunity
The Winter Emergency Overflow Shelter has been forced to close due to a second pipe burst leading to additional water damage. All clients were able to be placed in local shelters or hotels for a temporary stay. The agencies cooperating in facilitating the emergency overflow shelter have a plan in place should the need for additional shelter arise. The estimated time for the repairs to be completed means that the EOS shelter building will be closed for the remainder of the winter. Repairs include replacing ceiling tiles, flood cuts of the dry-wall and replacing flooring.
A new model for managing the EOS was implemented this winter. We are grateful to the volunteers who served as drivers, making meals and providing support at the Day Center. They were all essential making this new approach work. We are also thankful to the staffs at Family Promise, Hebron Housing Services, Hope Center, Salvation Army, and St. Vincent De Paul who extended themselves to make this shelter function.
If you are signed up to volunteer, and still would like to serve families experiencing homelessness, here are ways to help:
Make a meal for shelter families at Family Promise. Drop off the meal to Family Promise (139 E North St) by Wednesday at 12 pm. Click here to sign up.
Volunteer to be an on-call Family Promise Driver and transport clients to and from approved destinations and appointments.
For additional ways to support Family Promise please visit our website under volunteer.
2. BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Welcome Robert McCormack to the Board of Trustees
Staff
The Board of Trustees of Family Promise of Waukesha County is a group of volunteers who give of their time to set the vision, mission and provide accountability for the organization. A strong board is an essential part of the ability of any non-profit to function effectively. We are grateful for the dedication and service provided by the Family Promise of Waukesha County Board of Trustees.
Recently, five new volunteers joined the Board of Trustees. They are: Dan Budde, Robert McCormack, Monica Murphy, Jen Veum, and Julie Wiech. Over the next few weeks we will profile each new member.
Today we focus on Robert McCormack. Now retired, Bob's background is in accounting. He served as the Chief Operating Officer of Spancrete and now provides project based consulting. Bob is a go-getter who has jumped in as a co-chair of our Fund Development Committee. He brings energy, enthusiasm and a positive attitude! You can read more about Bob on our Board of Trustees webpage.
Welcome Bob!
3. A DIFFICULT EXPERIENCE
PIT Count underscores the challenges of homelessness.
Community
Twice a year agencies across the country who serve those experiencing homelessness set out to canvas the county seeking to identify individuals who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Groups of 2 or 3 people walk together through city routes or drive cars in more rural areas to places that one might be likely to find individuals staying in their car or living in a tent. The most recent PIT Count was held in January. On a 20 degree night volunteers in Waukesha County found 10 individuals who were unsheltered. Besides identifying those who are experiencing homelessness there is always an offer to help people access shelter. For some, being able to access shelter is a relief. For others, their past criminal history, addiction, mental health or the loss of autonomy are obstacles that prevent them from entering shelter. More than one group spent time with those experiencing homelessness only to find out that due to past occurrences they were unable to be accepted into shelter. How does one reconcile that there are some who are not welcome in shelter?
This experience raises some challenging questions:
If housing is a human right, should a person’s criminal past limit them from accessing shelter or housing?
If housing is not a human right and is to be earned, what happens to those who have forfeited that "privilege"?
How does past trauma impact decisions made by those experiencing homelessness?
Would I be willing to accept shelter if it meant sleeping in a room with 8 or 9 other people, losing autonomy about basic decisions such as meals and bedtime?
How do shelter’s support those with serious, untreated mental health issues?
When will we put serious effort into establishing more affordable housing?
Why haven't wages kept pace with the rate of inflation?
Results of the PIT Count are turned into HUD who produces the Annual Homelessness Assessment Report for Congress.
This report provides statistics on those who are experiencing both sheltered and unsheltered homelessness. Yet questions abound if this is an effective method for counting those who are homeless. In a recent editorial in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, James Causey wrote, “The problem with this methodology is that many families and youth who are experiencing homelessness do not stay in shelters, transitional housing, or on the streets — which dramatically underestimates the true extent of the crisis and gives a false impression things are OK and people don't need urgent assistance.” All of this underscores how complicated the issue of homelessness can be.
4. A STORY OF GROWTH
138 households served in 2024
Program
Each year we prepare a census that is shared with Family Promise National. The census provides a snapshot of the impact our services have on the community. Our tenth year of serving families in Waukesha County experiencing homelessness saw additional growth. The number of families served increased by 25% and the number of individuals increased 35% compared to 2023. The slideshow below, narrated by Joe Nettesheim, provides an overview of our 2024 Impact. Here are some highlights:
Families served in all programs: 138
Individuals served in all programs: 480
Children served in all programs: 280
97% of those served in eviction prevention did not experience homelessness.
61% of families in shelter exit to permanent housing
Comparing 2023 to 2024:
the average monthly rent payment increased 33%
Revenue for Family Promise increased 47%
Expenses decreased 6%
Prefer to review on your own? Click on the pdf.
POLL OF THE WEEK
Recently, the OMB issued an order freezing federal funds, what is your assessment of how organizations should proceed moving forward?
Be vigilant and rally supporters if this occurs again
Ensure people understand how the funds impact our community
Take steps to become less reliant on federal funding
Tell stories of those who are in need
5. 2025 GOALS
Board of Trustees focusing on four areas in 2025.
Vision/Mission
Our affiliate has gone through a lot of change over the past few years. Program numbers, income, expenses and number of staff members have increased over the past five years. For 2025 we anticipate further growth for the organization. These are four goals that were set by the Family Promise Board of Trustees for 2025
Goal 1 - Financial Stability:
After running a deficit in 2023, we focused on increasing income for 2024. We are grateful to all those who helped us grow revenue by 47% from 2023 to 2024. Expenses remained the same from 2023 to 2024. With the addition of a transitional house, an apartment in Oconomowoc and a stabilization program, in 2025 we expect both income and expenses to rise about 15%. Our revenue goal in 2025 is $1.1 million. To gain financial stability in 2025 the Fund Development Committee will:
establish 4 months of reserves
focus on raising the visibility of our impact
securing new supporters, retaining current supporters and encouraging recurring gifts
develop additional partnerships with businesses and foundations
Goal 2 – Space Evaluation
Our goal is to have one site that can provide shelter to 6-10 families. The reason for one site is to build a connection between program participants, better involve volunteers in the care of families, and reduce the cost of renting. Tasks of the group working on this goal will be to identify a viable site or land and investigate a capital campaign.
Goal 3 – Organizational Structure
There has been a lot of turnover at Family Promise of Waukesha County over the past few years. While that may be a reality in the social service industry we are investigating ways to retain staff. This committee will review job descriptions, personnel manual, organizational manuals as well as focus on staff benefits.
Goal 4 – Community Building
A foundational value of Family Promise is to provide a community response to families experiencing homelessness. Since we moved to non-congregate shelter we need to reinvent ways for faith communities, businesses, civic groups to provide support to families. The focus of this committee is to identify 10 new program partners (volunteer participation) and focus on meeting the metrics for our new stabilization program.
FIVE PLUS
SAVE THE DATE- GOLF OUTING JULY 21
The Family Promise of Waukesha County Golf Outing will be Monday, July 21 at the Oconomowoc Golf Club. Our theme for 2025 is Raise Your Hand; Lift Their Future. Our foundational value has long been community involvement. Your participation in the golf outing can have a generational impact. Save the date and watch for more information soon.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
46% of the families Family Promise of Waukesha County served in 2024 were black. There is a long history of racial discrimination impacting housing in Milwaukee. This is why we believe it is incumbent upon all of us to learn about people of other cultures. One suggestion we make to celebrate Black History Month is to follow Judge Derek Mosley, the director of the Lubar Center for Public Policy at Marquette University. Every day he posts a fact about black history. You can follow him on Facebook, Instagram, Linked-In. Here is an example of a post from Valentine's Day.
TARGET GIVING CIRCLE
Do not forget when you are out running errands this weekend to use your Target Circle App and assign your points to Family Promise. We are one of the Target Circle recipients for the first quarter of 2025.
VJS CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOUNDATION 5K!
Exciting news, this year, we’re a beneficiary at the 5th Annual VJS Construction Services Community Foundation 5K! Join us on Saturday, May 3rd, 2025, at 8 a.m. at this fun 5K run/walk starting in the VJS parking lot and circling the Pewaukee Business Park. Strollers and pets are welcome; we are excited to see you there!
Volunteers are needed! Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C48ABA82DAAFEC07-54499315-vjscs#/
CALENDAR
February 17 Staff Huddle
February 17 Family Promise Board of Trustees
February 18 Service Provider Network
February 19 Safe and Stable Homes Listening Session
February 20 Waukesha County Affordable Housing +
February 22 Waukesha Rotary Pancake Breakfast Display Table- Stop in and say hi!
April 22 Giving Day
May 3 VJS Foundation Run/Walk to benefit Family Promise of Waukesha County
July 21 Family Promise of Waukesha County Golf Outing
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